the yellow crayon-第29章

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warn　you　that　when　you　do　now　it　…　it　will　be　a　shock　to　you。〃

Mr。　Sabin　stood　perfectly　still　for　several　moments。　　This　little
man　believed　what　he　was　saying。　　He　was　certainly　deceived。　　Yet
none　the　less　Mr。　Sabin　was　thoughtful。

〃You　do　not　feel　inclined；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃to　give　me　your　entire
confidence。〃

〃Not　at　present；　sir；〃　the　man　answered。　　〃You　would　certainly
intervene；　and　my　case　would　be　spoilt。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　at　the　clock。

〃If　you　care　to　call　on　me　to…morrow；〃　he　said；　〃I　could　perhaps
show　you　something　which　might　change　your　opinion。〃

The　detective　bowed。

〃I　am　always　open；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃to　conviction。　　I　will　come
about　twelve　o'clock。〃

Mr。　Sabin　went　back　to　the　palm　lounge。　　Lucille　and　Reginald
Brott　were　sitting　together　at　a　small　table；　talking　earnestly
to　one　another。　　The　Prince　and　Lady　Carey　had　joined　another
party　who　were　all　talking　together　near　the　entrance。　　The　latter；
directly　she　saw　them　coming；　detached　herself　from　them　and　came
to　him。

〃Your　coffee　is　almost　cold；〃　she　said；　〃but　the　Prince　has　found
some　brandy　of　wonderful　age；　somewhere　in　the　last　century；　I
believe。〃

Mr。　Sabin　glanced　towards　Lucille。　　She　appeared　engrossed　in　her
conversation；　and　had　not　noticed　his　approach。　　Lady　Carey　shrugged。

〃You　have　only　a　few　minutes；〃　she　said；　〃before　that　dreadful
person　comes　and　frowns　us　all　out。　　I　have　kept　you　a　chair。〃

Mr。　Sabin　sat　down。　　Lady　Carey　interposed　herself　between　him　and
the　small　table　at　which　Lucille　was　sitting。

〃Have　they　discovered　anything？〃　she　asked。

〃Nothing！〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。

She　played　with　her　fan　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　looked　him　steadily
in　the　face。

〃My　friend？〃

He　glanced　towards　her。

〃Lady　Carey！〃

〃Why　are　you　so　obstinate？〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　low；　passionate
whisper。　　〃I　want　to　be　your　friend；　and　I　could　be　very　useful　to
you。　　Yet　you　keep　me　always　at　arm's　length。　　You　are　making　a
mistake。　　Indeed　you　are。　　I　suppose　you　do　not　trust　me。　　Yet
reflect　Have　I　ever　told　you　anything　that　was　not　true？　　Have　I
ever　tried　to　deceive　you？　　I　don't　pretend　to　be　a　paragon　of　the
virtues。　　I　live　my　life　to　please　myself。　　I　admit　it。　　Why　not？
It　is　simply　applying　the　same　sort　of　philosophy　to　my　life　as
you　have　applied　to　yours。　　My　enemies　can　find　plenty　to　say　about
me　…　but　never　that　I　have　been　false　to　a　friend。　　Why　do　you　keep
me　always　at　arm's　length；　as　though　I　were　one　of　those　who　wished
you　evil？〃

〃Lady　Carey；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　〃I　will　not　affect　to　misunderstand
you；　and　I　am　flattered　that　you　should　consider　my　good　will　of
any　importance。　　But　you　are　the　friend　of　the　Prince　of　Saxe
Leinitzer。　　You　are　one　of　those　even　now　who　are　working　actively
against　me。　　I　am　not　blaming　you；　but　we　are　on　opposite　sides。〃

Lady　Carey　looked　for　a　moment　across　at　the　Prince；　and　her　eyes
were　full　of　venom。

〃If　you　knew；〃　she　murmured；　〃how　I　loathe　that　man。　　Friends！　　That
is　all　long　since　past。　　Nothing　would　give　me　so　much　pleasure　as
never　to　see　his　face　again。〃

〃Nevertheless；〃　Mr。　Sabin　reminded　her；　〃whatever　your　private
feelings　may　be；　he　has　claims　upon　you　which　you　cannot　resist。〃

〃There　is　one　thing　in　the　world；〃　she　said　in　a　low　tone；　〃for
which　I　would　risk　even　the　abnegation　of　those　claims。〃

〃You　would　perjure　your　honour？〃

〃Yes　…　if　it　came　to　that。〃

Mr。　Sabin　moved　uneasily　in　his　chair。　　The　woman　was　in　earnest。
She　offered　him　an　invaluable　alliance；　she　could　show　him　the　way
to　hold　his　own　against　even　the　inimical　combination　by　which　he
was　surrounded。　　If　only　he　could　compromise。　　But　her　eyes　were
seeking　his　eagerly；　even　fiercely。

〃You　doubt　me　still；〃　she　whispered。　　〃And　I　thought　that　you　had
genius。　　Listen；　I　will　prove　myself。　　The　Prince　has　one　of　his
foolish　passions　for　Lucille。　　You　know　that。　　So　far　she　has　shown
herself　able　to　resist　his　fascinations。　　He　is　trying　other　means。
Lucille　is　in　danger！　　Duson　！　　…　but　after　all；　I　was　never　really
in　danger；　except　the　time　when　I　carried　the　despatches　for　the
colonel　and　rode　straight　into　a　Boer　ambush。〃

Mr。　Sabin　saw　nothing；　hut　he　did　not　move　a　muscle　of　his　face。　　A
moment　later　they　heard　the　Prince's　voice　from　behind　them。

〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　he　said；　〃to　interrupt　these　interesting
reminiscences；　but　you　see　that　every　one　is　going。　　Lucille　is
already　in　the　cloak…room。〃

Lady　Carey　rose　at　once；　but　the　glance　she　threw　at　the　Prince　was
a　singularly　malicious　one。　　They　walked　down　the　carpeted　way
together；　and　Lady　Carey　left　them　without　a　word。　　In　the　vestibule
Mr。　Sabin　and　Reginald　Brott　came　face　to　face。


CHAPTER　XXXIII

The　greeting　between　the　two　men　was　cold；　and　the　Prince　almost
immediately　stepped　between　them。　　Nevertheless；　Brott　seemed
to　have　a　fancy　to　talk　with　Mr。　Sabin。

〃I　was　at　Camperdown　House　yesterday；〃　he　remarked。　　〃Her　Ladyship
was　regretting　that　she　saw　you　so　seldom。〃

〃I　have　been　a　little　remiss；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered。　　〃I　hope　to　lunch
there　to…morrow。〃

〃You　have　seen　the　evening　paper；　Brott？〃　the　Prince　asked。

〃I　saw　the　early　editions；〃　Brott　answered。　　〃Is　there　anything
fresh？〃

The　Prince　dropped　his　voice　a　little。　　He　drew　Brott　on　one　side。

〃The　Westminster　declared　that　you　had　left　for　Windsor　by　an　early
train　this　afternoon；　and　gives　a　list　of　your　Cabinet。　　The　Pall
Mall；　on　the　other　hand；　declares　that　Letheringham　will　assuredly
be　sent　for　to…morrow。〃

Brott　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃There　are　bound　to　be　a　crop　of　such　reports　at　a　time　like　this；〃
he　remarked。

The　Prince　dropped　his　voice　almost　to　a　whisper。

〃Brott；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　something　which　I　have　had　it　in　my
mind　to　say　to　you　for　the　last　few　days。　　I　am　not　perhaps　a　great
politician；　but；　like　many　outsiders；　I　see　perhaps　a　good　deal　of
the　game。　　I　know　fairly　well　what　the　feeling　is　in　Vienna　and
Berlin。　　I　can　give　you　a　word　of　advice。〃

〃You　are　very　kind；　Prince；〃　Brott　remarked；　looking　uneasily　over
his　shoulder。　　〃But　…　〃

〃It　is　concerning　Brand。　　There　is　no　man　more　despised　and　disliked
abroad；　not　only　because　he　is　a　Jew　and　ill…bred；　but　because　of
his　known　sympathy　with　some　of　these　anarchists　who　are　perfect
firebrands　in　Europe。〃

〃I　am　exceedingly　obliged　to　you；〃　Brott　answered　hurriedly。　　〃I　am
afraid；　however；　that　you　anticipate　matters　a　good　deal。　　I　have
not　yet　been　asked　to　form　a　Cabinet。　　It　is　doubtful　whether　I　ever
shall。　　And；　beyond　that；　it　is　also　doubtful　whether　even　if　I　am
asked　I　shall　accept。〃

〃I　must　confess；〃　the　Prince　said；　〃that　you　puzzle　me。　　Every　one
says　that　the　Premiership　of　the　country　is　within　your　reach。　　It
is　surely　the　Mecca　of　all　politicians。〃

〃There　are　complications；〃　Brott　muttered。　　〃You　…　〃

He　stopped　short　and　moved　towards　the　door。　　Lucille；　unusually
pale　and　grave；　had　just　issued　from　the　ladies'　ante…room；　and
joined　Lady　Carey；　who　was　talking　to　Mr。　Sabin。　　She　touched　the
latter　lightly　on　the　arm。

〃Help　us　to　escape；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃I　am　weary　of　my　task。
Can　we　get　away　without　their　seeing　us？〃

Mr。　Sabin　offered　his　arm。　　They　passed　along　the　broad　way；　and
as　they　were　almost　the　last　to　leave　the　place；　their　carriage
was　easily　found。　　The　Prince　and　Mr。　Brott　appeared　only　in　time
to　see　Mr。　Sabin　turning　away；　hat　in　hand；　from　the　curb…stone。
Brott's　face　darkened。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　〃who　is　that　man？〃

The　Prince　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃A　man；〃　he　said；　〃who　has　more　than　once　nearly　ruined　your
country。　　His　life　has　been　a　splendid　failure。　　He　would　have
given　India　to　the　Russians；　but　they　mistrusted　him　and　trifled
away　their　chance。　　Once　since　then　he　nearly　sold　this　country
to　Germany；　it　was　a　trifle　only　which　intervened。　　He　has　been
all　his　life　devoted　to　one　cause。〃

〃And　that？〃　Brott　asked。

〃The　restoration　of　the　monarchy　to　France。　　He；　as　you　of　course
know；　is　the　Duc　de　Souspennier；　the　sole　living　member　in　the
direct　line　of　one　of　the　most　ancient　and　historical　houses　in
England。　　My　friend；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Mr。　Sabin；　〃you　have
stolen　a　march　upon　us。　　We　had　not　even　an　opportunity　of　making
our　adieux　to　the　ladies。〃

〃I　imagine；〃　Mr。　Sabin　answered；　〃that　the　cause　of　quarrel　may
rest　with　them。　　You　were　nowhere　in　sight　when　they　came　out。〃

〃These　fascinating　politics；〃　the　Prince　remarked。　　〃We　all　want
to　talk　politics　to　Mr。　Brott　just　now。〃

〃I　will　wish　you　good…night；　gentlemen；〃　Mr。　Sabin　said；　and　passed
into　the　hotel。

The　Prince　touched　Brott　on　the　arm。

〃Will　you　come　round　to　the　club；　and　take　a　hand　at　bridge？〃　he　said。

Brott　laughed　shortly。

〃I　imagine；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　should　be　an　embarrassing　guest　to
you　just　now　at；　say　the　Mallborough；　or　even　at　the　St。　James。
I　believe　the　aristocracy　are　looking　forward　to　the　possibility　of
my　coming　into　power　with　something　like　terror。〃

〃I　am　not　thoroughly　versed；　in　the　politics　of　this　country；〃　the
Prince　said；　〃but　I　have　always　understood　that　your　views　were
very　much　advanced。　　Dorset　solemnly　believes　that　you　are　pledged
to　exterminate　the　large　landed　proprietors；　and　I　do　not　think　he
would　be　surprised　to　hear　that　you　had　a　guillotine　up　your　sleeve。〃

The　two　men　were　strolling　along　Pall　Mall。　　The　Prince　had　lit　a
large　cigar；　and　was　apparently　on　the　best　of　terms　with　himself
and　the　world　in　general。　　Brott；　on　the　contrary；　was　most　unlike
himself；　preoccupied；　and　apparently　ill　at　ease。

〃The　Duke　and　his　class　are；　of　course；　my　natural　opponents；〃　Brott
said　shortly。　　〃By　the　bye；　Prince；〃　he　added；　suddenly　turning
towards　him；　and　with　a　complete　change　of　tone；　〃it　is　within　your
power　to　do　me　a　favour。〃

〃You　have　only　to　command；〃　the　Prince　assured　him　good…naturedly。

〃My　rooms　are　close　here；〃　Brott　continued。　　〃Will　you　accompany
me　there；　and　grant　me　the　favour　of　a　few　minutes'　conversation？〃

〃Assuredly！〃　the　Prince　answered；　flicking　the　end　off　his　cigar。
〃It　will　be　a　pleasure。〃

They　walked　on　towards　their　destination　in　silence。　　Brott's
secretary　was　in　the　library　with　a　huge　pile　of　letters　and
telegrams　before　him。　　He　welcomed　Brott　with　relief。

〃We　have　been　sending　all　over　London　for　you；　sir；〃　he　said。

Brott　nodded。

〃I　am　better　out　of　the　way　for　the　present；〃　he　answered。　　〃Deny
me　to　everybody　for　an　hour；　especially　Letheringham。　　There　is
nothing　here；　I　suppose；　which　cannot　wait　so　long　as　that？〃

The　secretary　looked　a　little　doubtful。

〃I　think　not；　sir；〃　he　decided。

〃Very　good。　　Go　and　get　something　to　eat。　　You　look　fagged。　　And
tell　Hyson　to　bring　up　some　liqueurs；　will　you！　　I　shall　be　engaged
for　a　short　time。〃

The　secretary　withdrew。　　A　servant　appeared　with　a　little　tray　of
liqueurs；　and　in　obedience　to　an　impatient　gesture　from　his　master；
left　them　upon　the　table。　　Brott　closed　the　door　firmly。

〃Prince；〃　he　said；　resuming　his　seat；　〃I　wished　to　speak　with　you
concerning　the　Countess。〃

Saxe　Leinitzer　nodded。

〃All　right；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　listening！〃

〃I　understand；〃　Brott　continued；　〃that　yo